Trending Now - Raiders Part Ways With Geno Smith After One Season and Big Investment

WHO:

Las Vegas Raiders

Geno Smith, quarterback

Pete Carroll, head coach (previously with the Raiders)

Klint Kubiak, new head coach of the Raiders

Tom Brady, minority owner of the Raiders

John Spytek, general manager of the Raiders

Fernando Mendoza, Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback

WHAT:

The Raiders are reportedly moving on from Geno Smith after one season.

If a trade partner is not found before the start of the new league year on March 9, 2026, the Raiders will release Smith.

Smith signed a two-year, $75 million contract extension with the Raiders.

The Raiders will incur an $18.5 million dead cap hit by releasing Smith but will gain $8 million in salary cap relief.

Smith led the NFL with 17 interceptions in the 2025 season.

He completed 67.4% of his passes for 3,205 yards, with 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

The Raiders traded a 2025 third-round pick to acquire Smith from the Seattle Seahawks.

WHERE:

Las Vegas, Nevada

Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada

Seattle, Washington (previously with the Seahawks)

WHEN:

The Raiders acquired Smith in 2025.

Smith played 15 games during the 2025 season.

The new league year starts on March 9, 2026.

The Raiders will avoid paying Smith an additional $8.5 million in guaranteed money by releasing him before March 9, 2026.

WHY:

The Raiders needed a quarterback after Matthew Stafford decided to stay with the Rams in February 2025.

The decision to move on from Smith is part of a strategy to potentially select Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

HOW:

The Raiders acquired Smith through a trade and signed him to a contract extension.

The decision to release Smith is contingent on finding a trade partner before the new league year begins.

The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly parting ways with quarterback Geno Smith after just one season, and if they can't find a trade partner before the new league year starts on March 9, they will release him, incurring an $18.5 million dead cap hit but gaining $8 million in salary cap relief. Smith, who led the NFL with 17 interceptions last season, completed 67.4% of his passes for over 3,200 yards, throwing 19 touchdowns along with those interceptions after being acquired from the Seattle Seahawks in 2025. This decision aligns with the Raiders' strategy to potentially select Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.